Emotionally Healthy School Leadership

Abstract

One of the great impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the need for schools to institute student social-emotional growth initiatives. Of particular concern is the well-being and emotional health of students. Efforts in this area often focus on student emotions and the feelings of others. While such efforts have made great gains in supporting student social-emotional growth, less focus has been given to the emotional wellness of staff and faculty. There has been some movement to address teacher wellness, but such efforts are in the foundational stages. Yet, little consideration has been given to what makes an emotionally healthy school leader and what is the impact on teacher wellness and other aspects of school climate. This chapter addresses, “What is an emotionally healthy school leader?” To accomplish this, the chapter incorporates a number of vignettes and scenarios. The purpose is to afford the reader an opportunity to reflect on the topics discussed as played out in real life settings.